Lady Doggers made their mark

Dewey High School’s 2013 softball season followed a similar script during a blockbuster odyssey that witnessed the Lady Doggers kick up some dust during an amazing mid-to-late season run.

Even though they feel short of their goal of advancing to the state tourney — due to a rugged seeding in the Class 4A district playoffs — the Lady Doggers still crossed the season’s finish line as winners.

They racked up 20 wins (a 21-14 record, to be precise) for the second-straight season and sent their seniors out on a rousing note.

“Ecstatic,” is how Dewey head coach Tona Wood described her emotions about her team’s accomplishment this year and last. “I had multiple coaches tell me what a great group of girls we had. They were amazing, not only for talent but as character individuals. To put together back-to-back 20-win seasons in special.”

But, there was a time this past campaign when 20 wins seemed as likely a cat chasing a German Shepherd up a tree.

By the end of the first 12 days of the season (Aug. 15-27), Dewey had stumbled out to a 2-9 start going into a normally brutal rivalry game against Caney Valley — at Caney Valley — on Aug. 29.

That’s when the Lady Doggers pushed their competitive gear into overdrive.

They smoked Caney Valley, 17-2, and proceeded to register seven straight wins to even their record at 9-9.

During the final three weeks (Sept. 14-Oct. 4), they strung together a 10-game winning streak that pushed them to the 20-win level.

Despite their sizzling finish, Dewey was sent to Vinita to play the district playoffs.

Vinita won two of three — Dewey had captured the middle game, 3-1 — to end the Lady Doggers season. Vinita outscored Dewey by just five runs, 13-8, in the series.

“We drew a tough assignment (Vinita), in the district,” Wood said, crediting the rough draw to Dewey’s struggles early in the season.

The Lady Doggers also split with rival Barnsdall, who went on to qualify for the state playoffs.

But, perhaps, no victory meant as much to Dewey as its regular season finale — a 3-1 win against Claremore-Sequoyah, which Dewey had never beaten during Woods’ long tenure as head coach.

That also was Dewey’s 20th season win.

Wood credited her team’s turnaround with the girls “learning to play with each other. I think it was just finding that camaraderie among each other.”

The team also had to undergo some growing pains with defensive changes from the previous year’s team.

Alyssa Robinson was pulled in from leftfield to play third base, filling a position left open by graduation.

Wood then assigned sophomore Kaylee Lewis — who had mainly served as a courtesy runner in 2012 — to start in leftfield.

“I think once they got comfortable into those positions, they settled in fine,” she said. “Coming from the outfield to the infield is very different, especially at third base.”

The foundation of the team revolved around the senior battery of pitcher Taylor Clark and catcher Kaleigh Hinkle, and rightfielder Shelby Williams.

Clark and Hinkle worked together since their sophomore seasons.

Following this past season, both were named All-Conference, along with first baseman Madi Brown and shortstop Lauryn Washington. Hinkle also was selected as the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year.

As pitcher and catcher, Clark and Hinkle developed a special communication.

“I think there was a lot of unspoken words that came from each other,” Wood said. “They knew, without saying a word, when they needed to call timeout.”

Although she didn’t start the season at the top of her game — partly due to the high volume of errors behind her — Clark settled in and became a successful warrior in the pitching circle, Wood said.

Williams led by production and example — as well as grittiness.

“She’s a great asset,” Wood said. “She leads by her character. Her points and her control of her character kept us in tune to what was going on as a team.”

Williams had to deal with some painful health issues during her varsity career, including a broken hip as a freshman and knee woes this past season.

“She kept her mood and spirits up when she wasn’t playing,” Wood said. “When she wasn’t playing she was a big asset to the team.”

In looking forward, Wood has to develop a new starting pitcher and catcher for next year, as well as replace Williams.

Bayli Brewer — who excelled this season at second base — is getting a look as the new pitcher.

“She can throw strikes,” Wood said. “Being a pitcher is not her want-to, but he’ll do what she can to help the team.”

Mariah Richardson is one of the players being considered to don the catcher’s gear.

Overall, Wood is grateful for both her departing players and returnees.

“I’ve got a great bunch of kids who it is a pleasure to get to coach,” Wood said. “I appreciate their parents lending them to me for the entire seasons. The girls have a great attitude. I think the pleasure as a coach is to get players when they are young and to see the team they become.”

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